Columbia Estuary Report - 1/20/2020
The MOUNTAIN PLOVER, first discovered 1/16/2020 on Gearhart Beach by
Steve Warner, has re-located to the relative safety of the island in
the middle of the Necanicum River. It's a holiday weekend which can
be complicated for beach roaming birds, both rare and common.
The LONG-BILLED CURLEW continues in Seaside sometimes on the Beach,
sometimes in the estuary. SNOWY PLOVERS and SNOW BUNTINGS have been
noted on the beach at multiple locations between the Sunset Access and
Gearhart.
A live THICK-BILLED MURRE was picked up at Tolavana Beach after the
weather last week. Other species not so lucky include RHINOCEROS
AUKLET, CASSIN'S AUKLET, ANCIENT MURRELET, and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE.
The Seaside HOODED ORIOLE has not been reported for at least a week.
There is, however, one coming to a feeder in Nehalem.
This appears to be a year for over-wintering LESSER YELLOWLEGS with
reports (most with photos) from Willa Bay, Youngs Bay and Brownsmead.
There were two GLAUCOUS GULLS at Wireless Rd on 1/19.
As for all those marvelous sparrows that were around at the end of
December? it appears that the storm just before Christmas convinced
them all to leave, the mockingbird, too.
--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
Lies, Damned Lies and Statistical Significance
http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=3761